A governança ambiental global como mecanismo de enfrentamento da poluição dos oceanos por plástico

Abstract

The search for the sustainable development of the planet involves facing all of humanity's common socio-environmental problems. There are several global environmental problems and one of them is the pollution of the oceans through plastic waste. The United Nations (UN), in 2022, through the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) initiated a discussion process for the future conclusion of the treaty involving the issue of plastics in the oceans. All the studies, organized by the UN, that supported the start of negotiations for the celebration of the future plastic treaty presented an alarming and challenging scenario with regard to tackling pollution in the seas and oceans. Furthermore, they indicated that the solution lies in international cooperation and the promotion of global efforts by all international actors. Thus, this research aims to discuss global environmental governance as a necessary mechanism to cope with plastic waste pollution in the oceans, as well as the consequences of this pollution for the marine environment and human health. In this bias, the core question of this work is the following: Is global environmental governance a necessary mechanism to face the pollution of the oceans by plastic? To answer this question, the hypothetical-deductive method of approach was used, since it assumes that the mechanism of global environmental governance, which allows the expanded participation of all international actors, is fundamental for facing the common global problem of ocean pollution by plastic waste. To make the scope of this study possible, documentary and bibliographic research were used as procedural techniques. Thus, through the delimited methodology, the work will be structured in three chapters, namely: Pollution of the oceans by plastics: emergence and understanding of the problem; legal mechanisms aimed at controlling ocean pollution by plastics; and tackling the issue from global environmental governance. In the light of what has been demonstrated, it is clear that this work will be able to contribute to significant changes in the normative, political, socioeconomic and environmental process, since it will seek to discuss, in advance, a mechanism that will contribute to the construction of an international treaty more efficient solution to the problem of plastics in the oceans